The January switch window has been open for enterprise for 2 weeks, now, and Liverpool are but to make their first transfer to bolster their taking part in squad forward of the second half of the season.
There isn’t any instant rush or want for the Reds to dip into the market, nevertheless, as they’re in a terrific place in each the Premier League and the Champions League.
After their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on the Metropolis Floor on Tuesday night time, Liverpool are six points clear of the Difficult Timber and 7 factors away from Arsenal within the top-flight desk.
The Reds are prime of the Champions League with six wins from six matches within the league part, which implies that they’re on target to bypass the play-off spherical and go straight into the knockout levels.
This exhibits that Liverpool are in a great place and should not have to hurry into any offers that don’t make sense for them within the present switch window.
It’s no secret, nevertheless, that Arne Slot want to add a defensive midfielder to his squad sooner or later, after failing to land Martin Zubimendi in the summertime.
Liverpool set to overlook out on Martin Zubimendi
It was well-documented that Liverpool had been all in favour of a deal to signal the Actual Sociedad star forward of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, however they in the end didn’t persuade him to make the transfer to Anfield.
Sky Sports reported in the summertime that the Spain worldwide was set to finish a swap to the Premier League facet in a £51m deal, the worth of his launch clause, with the Reds eager to snap him up from the LaLiga outfit.
The outlet added, although, that Zubimendi then turned Liverpool down after Actual Sociedad supplied him a brand new contract with greater wages to maintain him on the membership.
It is not going to be second time fortunate for the Reds, both, because it has lately been reported that their Premier League rivals Arsenal are on the verge of a £51m deal to signal him on the finish of this season.
24/25 LaLiga |
Martin Zubimendi |
---|---|
Appearances |
18 |
Cross accuracy |
85% |
Floor duel success charge |
60% |
Aerial duel success charge |
73% |
Tackles + interceptions per recreation |
3.9 |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Zubimendi has performed recurrently within the Spanish top-flight this season and showcased his defensive high quality within the quantity six place.
The 25-year-old star is a dominant defensive midfielder who doesn’t enable opponents to get the higher of him on the ground or within the air fairly often, which means that he gives a powerful presence out of possession on the base of the midfield.
Liverpool look set to have to return up in opposition to him once they face Arsenal subsequent season, however the Reds might overlook all about Zubimendi by touchdown one among their different reported targets in that place – Aurelien Tchouameni.
Liverpool’s curiosity in Aurelien Tchouameni
Football Insider reported earlier this month that Liverpool are one of many golf equipment eyeing up a possible swoop to signal the France worldwide from Actual Madrid.
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The outlet claimed {that a} transfer within the January switch window is at the moment unlikely, as Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t need to disrupt his squad, however {that a} transfer might materialise in the summertime.
Soccer Insider added that Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis are additionally within the French titan and that the board have given Pep Guardiola the funds wanted to pursue a deal for the defensive midfielder.
It additionally revealed that each the Cityzens and Liverpool consider that they might tempt Tchouameni to make the transfer to England in the summertime, forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
Which means the Reds might must persuade the France worldwide to hitch them forward of a transfer to The Etihad to play for Manchester Metropolis as a way to win the race for his providers, while it stays to be seen how a lot Actual Madrid would demand for the participant they signed from Monaco for £85.3m in the summertime of 2022.
Why Liverpool ought to signal Aurelien Tchouameni
Liverpool ought to push to safe a deal for the 24-year-old midfield destroyer as a result of it could enable Slot to utterly overlook about lacking out on a transfer for Zubimendi.
Tchouameni, who was once described as “among the finest defensive midfielders on the planet” by analyst Raj Chohan, has confirmed himself to be a wonderful performer on the base of the midfield for an enormous European facet in latest seasons.
He’s a dominant defensive midfielder, who gained 71% of his duels within the Champions League final season as Actual Madrid gained the competitors, and the titan can be extremely dependable in possession.
During the last one year, Tchouameni ranks inside the top 2% of midfielders within the Males’s Massive 5 Leagues and European competitions for go completion charge (91.6%), which illustrates how spectacular his ball retention is – making him well-suited to a crew that wishes to dominate video games and recycle possession successfully.
His performances in LaLiga this season for Actual Madrid, while being known as upon at centre-back and defensive midfield, additionally recommend that he might supply extra high quality than Zubimendi.
24/25 LaLiga |
||
---|---|---|
Appearances |
18 |
15 |
Tackles + interceptions per recreation |
3.9 |
3.3 |
Cross accuracy |
85% |
93% |
Duel success charge |
64% |
64% |
Error led to shot/aim |
2 |
0 |
Stats by way of Sofascore |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Tchouameni is way extra dependable with the ball at his ft, with the next go accuracy and fewer possession-based errors, while being as dominant in bodily battles with opposition gamers.
On the age of 24, he’s additionally a yr youthful than the Spaniard and nonetheless has loads of time left on his facet to develop and enhance below Slot’s teaching, which makes him a beautiful long-term signing for Liverpool in addition to being a participant who might make a direct impression.
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Liverpool might solely draw in opposition to Premier League title rivals Nott’m Forest as a consequence of an impressed goalkeeping show.
Due to this fact, FSG should be sure that the Dutch boss has the funds accessible to beat Manchester Metropolis to the signing of Tchouameni if he turns into accessible in the summertime.